Left: The Vikings’ new second baseman, Hanna Borson, got a piece of this ball against Silver Bay and reached base on an error. Above: Alyssa Spry had a great game playing center field against the Mariners. Here she is relaying the ball into second base, holding the Mariner batter to a single.
Playing between the raindrops that fell last Thursday, May 7, the Vikings defeated their North Shore rival Silver Bay Mariners 3-2.
Alex Slanga went the entire way for the Vikings, striking out four while giving up two hits and walking four batters over the course of seven innings.
“Alex was really on,” said Head Coach Jessie Anderson. “This game was really a confidence booster for us.”
Silver Bay scored its two runs in the first inning. The Vikings got their offense going in the third inning when Carrie Palmer reached first on a single, stole second then advanced to third on a bobbled ball by an infielder. Hanna Borson drove Palmer in with a single to make it 2-1.
“We scored two more runs in the fourth,” said Anderson. “Trace McQuatters singled and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Maranda Deschampe. Bethany Derscheid singled and drove in Trace. Alex pushed Derscheid in with a double to end our scoring.”
Maddy Roy, Bethany Derscheid and Slanga each had a double in the game.
With the Vikings’ regular shortstop Jami Sjogren out for the year due to a broken hand suffered in their last game, Carrie Palmer was moved from second to fill her spot.
“Carrie did an excellent job for us at shortstop,” said Anderson. She made several great plays for us. We feel sad that Jami Sjogren is hurt and can’t play. It’s a tough way to go out in your senior year.”
Borson took Palmer’s spot at second and played well, said Anderson.
“Our defense was really good throughout the game. In the past in tight games we would tend to lose our composure, our heads would get in the way and we would lose tight games like this,” said Anderson.
Emma Bemlott took the loss for the Mariners. She also went seven innings, giving up six hits and two bases on ball.
Coach Anderson said the win was a big one for the Vikings. Silver Bay is ranked just ahead of the Vikings in the conference and a win on Thursday against Carlton and a loss by Silver Bay could make things interesting in the seeding for playoffs, which begin May 19.
“I don’t think we can move up more than one spot to 5th if we beat Carlton [played at Carlton on May 14] so we will have to go on the road for playoffs. But it would be nice to go into the playoffs with a win,” said Anderson.
Anderson said her team appears to be jelling at just the right time. Against Silver Bay the defense was tremendous and Slanga pitched her best game of the season, said Anderson.
The Vikings have used a variety of players this season, but for now the infield is made up of Maranda Deschampe at third, Carrie Palmer at shortstop, Hannah Borson at second, Abby Prom at first, Maddy Roy catching and Alex Slanga pitching. The outfield is made up of Bethany Derscheid in right, Alyssa Spry in center and Trace McQuatters in left.
Hannah Toftey and Mariah Deschampe are designated hitters a lot, said Anderson, and Jamie Johnson, Hannah VanderHeiden do a lot of running for the team.
The Vikings traveled to Carlton at press time on Thursday, May 14 to face the Bulldogs who have posted eight wins on the season. One of Carlton’s three losses was a drubbing that came against Silver Bay early in the season.
According to the latest Max Prep report the Vikings are in seventh place in the Polar League Conference with a 4-6 record. Overall the Vikings are 5-7 on the season. In the conference the Vikings are ranked ahead of McGregor, Cromwell and Floodwood and just behind Silver Bay.
The Vikings begin playoffs on May 19. At this time it isn’t known where the game(s) will be played.
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